Ultrasound is an ideal tool to examine the joints and surrounding soft tissues like tendons, ligaments and joint linings. Musculoskeletal and joint sonography is sensitive, without radiation exposure, easy accessible, quick, and has high patient tolerability with relatively low cost.
A real-time scanner allow the dynamic assessment of the musculoskeletal system and a specific examination for each patient. In addition, joint aspiration and injection accuracy can be improved. Probes with high frequency improve the image resolution and allow visualization of fine anatomic structures of the small parts. As musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) is very operator dependent, experience and training is required. Ultrasound is also often used in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

See also Ultrasound Therapy, Real-Time Mode, Artifact and Ultrasound Biomicroscopy.

(LIPU / LIUS) Low intensity pulsed ultrasound is a form of mechanical power that is transmitted through and into tissues as an acoustic pressure wave. Low intensity pulsed ultrasound is often used in musculoskeletal and joint ultrasound and has therapeutic benefits for healing of (fresh) fractures, those that demonstrate either a delayed union or nonunion, and soft tissue repair.

Most usual ultrasound machines are 2D real-time systems. This types of ultrasound scanners allow to assess both motion and anatomy, including the motion of heart valves, the movement of intestines and lungs and also to guide interventions, like for example a biopsy or a laparoscopic ultrasound.
A standard real-time scanner consists of a mobile console with the monitor on the top and rows of small containers at the bottom to accommodate a variety of scanner probes. The linear, curved or phased array transducers are usually equipped with multiple crystals or in some cases with a moving crystal. A real-time scanner may be e.g., a mechanical scanner or electronic array scanner.

See also Musculoskeletal and Joint Ultrasound.

Sonography [aka: ultrasonography] is a term that encompasses the entire process of performing ultrasound examinations and interpreting the obtained images.
Sonography involves the skilled application of ultrasound technology by trained professionals known as sonographers or ultrasound technologists. These specialists operate the ultrasound equipment, manipulate the transducer, and acquire the necessary pictures for diagnostic imaging purposes. Sonography requires in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology to accurately interpret the ultrasound images and provide valuable information to the treating physician.
Sonography uses equipment that generates high frequency sound waves to produce images from muscles, soft tissues, fluid collections, and vascular structures of the human body. Obstetric sonography is commonly used during pregnancy. Sonography visualizes anatomy, function, and pathology of for example gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, liver, uterus, ovaries, urinary bladder, eye, thyroid, breast, aorta, veins and arteries in the extremities, carotid arteries in the neck, as well as the heart.
A typical medical ultrasound machine, usually a real-time scanner, operates in the frequency range of 2 to 13 megahertz.

See also Musculoskeletal and Joint Ultrasound, Pediatric Ultrasound, Cerebrovascular Ultrasonography and Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound.

(US) Also called echography, sonography, ultrasonography, echotomography, ultrasonic tomography.
Diagnostic imaging plays a vital role in modern healthcare, allowing medical professionals to visualize internal structures of the body and assist in the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions. Two terms that are commonly used interchangeably but possess distinct meanings in the field of medical imaging are 'ultrasound' and 'sonography.'
Ultrasound is the imaging technique that utilizes sound waves to create real-time images, while sonography encompasses the entire process of performing ultrasound examinations and interpreting the obtained images. Ultrasonography is a synonymous term for sonography, emphasizing the use of ultrasound technology in diagnostic imaging. A sonogram, on the other hand, refers to the resulting image produced during an ultrasound examination.
Ultrasonic waves, generated by a quartz crystal, cause mechanical perturbation of an elastic medium, resulting in rarefaction and compression of the medium particles. These waves are reflected at the interfaces between different tissues due to differences in their mechanical properties. The transmission and reflection of these high-frequency waves are displayed with different types of ultrasound modes.
By utilizing the speed of wave propagation in tissues, the time of reflection information can be converted into distance of reflection information. The use of higher frequencies in medical ultrasound imaging yields better image resolution. However, higher frequencies also lead to increased absorption of the sound beam by the medium, limiting its penetration depth. For instance, higher frequencies (e.g., 7.5 MHz) are employed to provide detailed imaging of superficial organs like the thyroid gland and breast, while lower frequencies (e.g., 3.5 MHz) are used for abdominal examinations.

Ultrasound in medical imaging offers several advantages including:

Diagnostic ultrasound imaging is generally considered safe, with no adverse effects. As medical ultrasound is extensively used in pregnancy and pediatric imaging, it is crucial for practitioners to ensure its safe usage. Ultrasound can cause mechanical and thermal effects in tissue, which are amplified with increased output power. Consequently, guidelines for the safe use of ultrasound have been issued to address the growing use of color flow imaging, pulsed spectral Doppler, and higher demands on B-mode imaging. Furthermore, recent ultrasound safety regulations have shifted more responsibility to the operator to ensure the safe use of ultrasound.

See also Skinline, Pregnancy Ultrasound, Obstetric and Gynecologic Ultrasound, Musculoskeletal and Joint Ultrasound, Ultrasound Elastography and Prostate Ultrasound.